Screw-driver.



J. H. FINNIGAN.

SCREW DRIVER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26, I917.

Patented J une 11, 1918.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY WMFI M rlll lllil If! All lillllllllttllmmfiinlutll lalfllklmdlllil WITNESSES a art t TIES H. FINNIGAN, 0F NOXON, MONTANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO CHRIST C. HANSEN AND ONE-THIRDTO MAURICE BURK, BOTH 0F NOXON, MONTANA.

SCREW-DRIVER.

To all whomit may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES H. FINNIGAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at N oxon, in the county of Sanders and State of Montana, have invented new and useful Screw-Drivers, of which the following is a specification.

l The invention relates to screw drivers, and more particularly to the class of adjustable screw drivers.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a screw driver of this character wherein the adjustable and detachable screw bit telescopes within the handle, and is prevented from wear upon the latter, in the adjustment of said bit, for the lengthening or shortening of said screw driver to suit the fancy of the user.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a screw driver of this character, which is extremely-simple in construction, readily and easily adjusted, being devoid of any protruding parts, such as a catch or latch, as the same is housed within the handle, and also one which is inexpensive in manufacture.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter fully described,

- illustrated in the accompanying drawing and pointed out in. the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a screw driver constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentar vertical sectional view through the hand e of the screw driver, showing in detail the latch key.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 *of Fig. '2, looking in the direction of the arrow.

' Fig. 4 is a sentional view on the line 44 Specification of Letters Patent.

I Patented June 3111,1918.

Application filed June 26, 1917. Serial No. 177,038.

from metal and through the outer end of which is slidably and detachably passed the screw bit 6, which, for a major portion of its length, is of rectangular shape in cross section and is formed at its outer end with the beveled screw engaging extremity 7, as usual.

Mounted centrally within the handle A, and extending lon itudinally thereof throughout the length 0 the same, is a barrel 8 in which is adapted to telescope the bit 6 for the adjustment of the same, the barrel 8 being of a shape in cross section corresponding to the cross sectional shape of the shank 6 and constitutes a lining and guide way in said handle A for the tele scopic engagement of the bit 6 in the handle, so as to avoid wear upon the handle in the adjustment of the screw driver for the lengthening or shortening thereof, to suit the fancy of the user, or when the occasion requires in the manipulation of the screw driver.

At the outer end of the barrel 8 is a cap 9, which may be integral therewith and is adapted to be spun upon the end of the handle A opposite the ferrule 5, the barrel 8 being driven into the central bore in the handle through this end and the cap engaged with said handle, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing.

The ferrule 5 is of tapered formation and fits over the reduced correspondingly tapered end 10 of the handle A, and is astened in place in any suitable manner, so as to form ferrule 5 to. permit engagement thereof by the finger of the user of the screw driver, so that the key can be moved for unlatching the bit when it is desired to adjust the same.

The key opposite the protruding end 15 which constitutes the finger enga ing portion thereof, is formed with a gui e pin extension 16 which works ina suitable aperture in the ferrule 5 diametrically opposite ance of, the springs 17 into a position for permitting the free sliding movement of the bit 6 through theferrule 5 and in the bar rel 8 within the handle, thus it being seen that the bit 6 can be adjusted for the extension thereof or the retraction of the same to len then or shorten the screw driver.

I? will be apparent that in addition to the adjustability of the bit 6 in the handle- A of the screw driver, said bit can be readily and conveniently detached from the handle so as to (permit different styles of bits to be employe in conjunction with the handle for the execution of different characters of work.

ferrule 5, which has an opening therein adapted to snugly embrace the bit 6, and at the point of engagement of the key 11 with said bit, so that the latter will be prevented from wabbling or devoid of loose move ment within the handle when the tool is in use.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the means construction and manner of operation of the screw driver will be clearly understood, and,

therefore, a more extended explanation has been omitted. However, it is to bennderstood that certain features of construction of the screw driver can be varied and the proportions thereof such as come properly Within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

What is claimed is p l. A tool of the character described, comprising an elongated handle, a barrel angular in cross section within and coextensive with'said handle, a ferrule on one end of the handle and having opposed side openings, a bit passed through the ferrule and slidably telescoped in said barrel, and shaped in cross section correspondingly to the bar rel, a key disposed transversely in the ferrule and having an opening for the bit, with one edge constructed to engage with bit, one end of thekey being protruded through one openin in the ferrule to the exterior thereof, an its opposite end reduced to engage in the other opening in said ferrule, and a spring within the ferrule and working against said key for the ositive engagement of the key with said bit 2. A tool of the character described, comprising an elongated handle, a barrel within and coextensive with said handle, an adjustable bit slidable in the barrel throu h one end, and a cap formed on and closing t e opposite end of the barrel, and turned over the adjacent end of the handle to reinforce the same.

In testimon that I claim the foregoing as my own I ave hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES H. FINNIGAN. 

